Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Flickr Photos

Those are three names that are currently linked to the Washington Redskins across the league as key cogs to the Burgundy and Gold claiming their first division title in 13 years.

While the trio looks to join Redskins greats Sam Huff and Chris Hanburger in the halls of Canton someday, one current Redskin will be joining them on a slightly different list. (Hint—he hasn’t even played a game yet.)

However, while those six men have been instrumental in limiting opposing defenses for years, they have competition at staking claim as the best linebacking core in franchise history.

Hall of Famers Sam Huff and Chris Hanburger are arguably two of the great linebackers in NFL history and for a four-year stretch in the late 1960’s, they terrorized opponents week in and week out lining up in burgundy and gold together.

Find out what these two former teammates had to say about their reign of destruction together here:

One of the first things that I noticed upon my return to Redskins Park this morning, is that the 2010 Redskins Homecoming photograph had been updated with a fresh 2011 Homecoming shot.

The photo (which is much higher quality than my picture of a picture through reflective glass) features 78 Redskins alumni, taken on the field in the southwest end zone before the 49ers game. This was the second year for the Redskins Homecoming game, part of a concerted effort to re-engage the Redskins Alumni with the organization.

But if you look closely at the center of the picture, you’ll see one individual that isn’t reliving the glory days. That would be George Starke, Jr., riding in an infant pouch strapped to his namesake’s chest: Read more »

The bronze bust of recently-inducted Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger was a featured display at “The NFL Experience” in Indianapolis this week.

This was the first opportunity for Redskins fans to see his bust up close and in person, outside of its home in Canton, Ohio.

Accompanying the bust, was a list of “The Hitman’s” accolades, including his given name: Christian Hanburger, Jr. It still amazes me that he was selected 245th overall, which fell in the 18th (of 20 total) rounds of the 1965 draft.

That equates to every team in the league pass over the eventual Hall Of Famer an average of 17 times. Good thing the Redskins got it right with their 11th overall pick in the 18th round.

If he were selected 245th overall in the 2011 draft, he would have been taken only eight picks before nose tackle Chris Neild, and nine picks before the end of the draft.

Oh, how the times have changed.

Also in the exhibit, there was a picture of head coach Joe Gibbs and his three Lombardi Trophies (via @Brianjh):

Nearby, was a display of all 45 previous Super Bowl rings. In chronological order, here are three pieces of the Gibbs family jewelry collection: Read more »

As a player on the field, Chris Hanburger was smart, dominant, and ferocious. As a man off the field, he was quiet, reserved, and soft-spoken. In the lead-up to his induction to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, many wondered what side of him would be on display.

But when he took the podium tonight in Canton, he did not disappoint, showing off another side entirely. The man once referred to as “The Hangman” on the field, was actually really funny during his induction speech.

The best part is that he took the opportunity to roast the other six inductees into the H.O.F., all while making fun of his own reputation of being quiet. Read more »

Good morning Redskins Nation, and welcome to the biggest Saturday on your schedule.

Truthfully, I was being poetic in the title of this post–it’s a little gray out at the moment. However, as I sit at my desk, I do see the golden sun poking through the cloud at Redskins Park. It’s going to be a great day.

Deep in the heart of Redskins Park lies a treasure trove of memories stored in large manila envelopes and tucked away in filing cabinets. There are game programs, news clippings, and of course, black and white photos.

Every now and then we take a trip down memory lane, and this week, I have a particularly timely sequence of photos of soon-to-be Hall Of Famer, Chris Hanburger.

Hanburger was a dominant linebacker and a lifetime Redskin. Among his many accolades, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Year, and was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.

General Manager Bruce Allen said of Hanburger’s induction:

“He was a great competitor. Like you hear coaches today talk about the details, Chris was into the details. He made his teammates accountable.”

“Obviously his achievements even today when you look back are significant. Remember in his era, he called all of the defenses, not just the audibles,” Allen continued. “There was no radio in the helmet from the coaches. He had to work to prepare and call all of the plays.”

“I think it’s magnificent for Chris and all of his teammates that he got honored with a selection to the Hall of Fame,” Allen continued. “It’s going to be a special weekend. Chris’ speech will probably be about one minute long, but the party we are having for him and his teammates is going to be a great tribute for him and the Redskins.”

Hanburger also holds the distinction of playing over a 12-year period, during which the team changed helmet designs twice.

His own personal taste in hair style changed a couple of times too. It’s not exactly clear when the yearbook photos were taken, but we can indicate from the helmet design approximately when it was.

The old Redskins helmet with the spear design was the team’s helmet from 1965–when Hanburger entered the league–to 1969: Read more »

Like this:

There are a lot of things I’m enjoying about these Hail! Throwbacks. First and foremost, I love seeing writer/artist Ben Ceccarelli’s renditions of Redskins greats. I’m also enjoying seeing Ceccarelli explore an entirely different area of the rich tradition of the Redskins. This week, I’m amused by the representation of Cartoon Me in the third panel, which is terrifyingly accurate.

But the main thing I’m digging about this week’s strip has nothing to do with Ben’s work at all: I’m just enjoying the reminder that, yes, Chris Hanburger has finally been elected to the Hall Of Fame.

As always, click on this first panel or the Read More link to see the rest of the strip.